Composition Of Gold Top (SST) Tube And Red Top Tube For Blood Tests Explained

Summary

• A Gold Top (SST) tube is commonly used for serum biochemical testing
• A Red Top tube is typically used for serum chemistry tests that do not require serum separation gel
• The composition of a Gold Top (SST) tube includes a Clot Activator and a serum separation gel

Introduction

When you go to the doctor for blood tests, you may have noticed that they use different colored tubes to collect your blood samples. Two common types of tubes used for blood collection are the Gold Top (SST) tube and the Red Top tube. These tubes are specifically designed for different types of blood tests and have different compositions. In this article, we will explore the composition of a Gold Top (SST) tube and a Red Top tube.

Gold Top (SST) Tube

The Gold Top tube, also known as the serum separator tube (SST), is commonly used for serum biochemical testing. The tube has a stopper with a gold-colored cap, which indicates that it contains a gel separator. The composition of a Gold Top (SST) tube includes:

Clot Activator

One of the components of a Gold Top (SST) tube is a Clot Activator. The Clot Activator helps the blood sample to clot faster by activating the coagulation cascade. This is important for tests that require serum separation, as the Clot Activator helps to accelerate the clotting process, allowing the serum to be separated from the blood cells more efficiently.

Serum Separation Gel

Another key component of a Gold Top (SST) tube is the serum separation gel. This gel is typically made of a polymer material that has a specific gravity between that of serum and blood cells. When the blood sample is centrifuged, the serum separation gel forms a barrier between the serum and the blood cells, allowing for easy and clean separation of the serum for testing.

Red Top Tube

The Red Top tube is typically used for serum chemistry tests that do not require serum separation gel. The tube has a stopper with a red-colored cap, which indicates that it does not contain a gel separator. The composition of a Red Top tube includes:

No Additives

Unlike the Gold Top (SST) tube, the Red Top tube does not contain any additives such as clot activators or serum separation gel. This makes it suitable for tests that do not require serum separation, as the blood sample can be directly used for serum chemistry testing without the need for additional processing.

Anticoagulant

One common component of a Red Top tube is an anticoagulant, such as EDTA or Sodium Citrate. The Anticoagulant helps to prevent the blood sample from clotting by binding to calcium ions, which are essential for the coagulation cascade. This ensures that the blood sample remains in a liquid state for testing and analysis.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the composition of a Gold Top (SST) tube and a Red Top tube is tailored to the specific requirements of different types of blood tests. The Gold Top (SST) tube contains a Clot Activator and a serum separation gel, which are essential for serum biochemical testing that requires serum separation. On the other hand, the Red Top tube does not contain any additives but may include an Anticoagulant to prevent clotting. Understanding the composition of these tubes is important for ensuring accurate and reliable blood Test Results.

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